Steven knew he shouldn't be questioning Connie, his Reina, his queen. He knew anything she did have a reason of tome type. Though the image in front of him still threw him off. He was used to seeing her with a gun, a blade, a deed for a property...Hell, even someone's broken body in her hand, courtesy of her fist, of course.

They were mafia, after all. Their life was bloody, to say the least.

So it was a shock to see his partner and lover rubbing iodine on the bruised and shallowly slit cheek of a young tween in a dark ratty pink dress, torn blue jeans, and beat-up purple sneakers.  Steven looked at the tween narrowed dark brown eyes, a dead cold fire in them.

"Reina?" Steven started, watching Connie gently pat their guest's cheek, meticulous attention on their face, pain in her black eyes. Blood on her usually white blouse.

"Thought your name was Connie." The gentle tween curiosity brought a slight smirk to Connie's face.

"It's Spanish for queen." the mafioso stated, "his nickname for me."

" Hmm. Fits." The tween stated, " You remind me of Rani Velu Nachiyar mixed with Onake Obavva."

"Now that's a compliment, Stevonnie." She chuckled, dipping the bloody cloth in a nearby water bowl, before putting on gauze and bandage on Stevonnie's cheek. 

"Is he your boyfriend?"

"He's my partner in everything. He's Steven."

Steven sighed, taking off his jacket and hanging it up before rolling his sleeves " Gonna make food for us three."

Connie nodded and hummed in agreement.

"Thank you, Mr. Steven." Stevonnie's gracious voice was small as she looked at him with big eyes.

Steven didn't respond vocally, glancing at Connie, who only nodded slightly. He breathed out, smirking a bit before meeting eyes with Stevonnie. "Don't sweat it, Pequeña Guerrera. Also, call me Steven."  He said, reaching to ruffle their hair.

"Please don't!" Stevonnie yelled, flinching at his closing hand, shocking both mafioso as Stevonnie covered their head defensively.  "i'm sorry. I.."

"Hey..." Steven stopped, holding his hands up in surrender, "it's fine, Stevonnie." He reassured, smiling at them, " you don't have to apologize for being cautious or not wanting to be touched; no explanation needed-." He stopped mid-sentence before shaking Steveonnie's outstretched hand, " Let's get along, for now on."

Stevonnie nodded, flushed cheeked.

"Alright. Food not gonna fix itself." He joked as he let the hand go and headed to the kitchen, 'well, now we have an orphan. so much for a lover's nest.' He thought before his eyes narrowed, "Still, whatever reason Connie has, it's for a good one." He looked over his shoulder, looking at the two of them, chat over warrior women through history, smiling a bit, " well," he turned on the stove, "that can go to the back-burner for now. After all, Reina must be hungry; beating down child abusers to a bloody pulp can do that."